The selection includes works which were supported by the Red Sea Fund, including Annemarie Jacir’s ‘Palestine 36’, the Palestinian submission to the Oscar race and ‘Hijra’ by Shahad Ameen which represents Saudi Arabia in the awards run this year.
The Red Sea International Film Festival (also referred to as Red Sea IFF) will present Rowan Athale’s biopic Giant as its Opening Night gala film for its fifth edition. From the British-Indian filmmaker of Little America and Strange but True, Giant tells the uplifting story of British-Yemeni boxing champion Prince Naseem ‘Naz’ Hamed, and will screen in its MENA premiere on 4th December 2025.
In recent years, a documentary version of the film titled Naseem, Fight with Grace has been in development, by part-time London based filmmaker Ana Naomi de Sousa, produced by Hakawati. It would be great to get to watch both films side by side, as a woman’s gaze is sometimes important in telling such a male-centric story. The doc’s intro says “The “people’s history” of British-Yemeni featherweight boxer Naseem Hamed, who became a world champion in 1995. Derided by English commentators and journalists as arrogant and flashy— he was celebrated and lionised from Sheffield to Sanaa.” Racism was at the heart of his ultimate fall from grace and I’m personally looking forward to watching any film made about this champion, who in 2015 was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame and has disappeared from public view.
Giant stars an actor deservedly on an upward trajectory, Amir El Masry, whose recent work has included this year’s 100 Nights of Hero and 2020 critics’ favorite Limbo.
Faisal Baltyuor, CEO of the Red Sea Film Foundation, said “Our selection of Giant as the opening film of the fifth edition embodies an artistic celebration of regional talents who have established their presence on the global film scene. Through the story of an Arab world champion in boxing, the film portrays a journey of perseverance that inspires generations and reflects pride in identity.highlighting the growing presence of Arab stars in international productions alongside global names, reaffirming that Arab cinema today stands as a powerful force in the global film landscape.”
Other much-anticipated titles to be screened at the 5th edition of the festival include the Egyptian Wedding Rehearsal, by Amira Diab, as well as Haifaa Al Mansour’s Unidentified, but also international titles like Alice Winocour’s Couture, starring Angelina Jolie and Olivier Assayas’ The Wizard of the Kremlin, starring Paul Dano and Jude Law, the latter as Vladimir Putin.
Fionnuala Halligan, the festival’s new Director of International Programmes, said: “Our International Spectacular section embodies the Festival’s commitment to cinematic excellence and cultural exchange. Featuring blockbuster on-screen talent and award-winning filmmakers, each of these films offers a distinct window into another world, from seventh-century Arabia, the magical medieval era to the modern day – and we’re looking forward to screening these thrilling titles at the Festival for their MENA premieres.”
Special screenings will feature two titles, The Voice of Hind Rajab by Kaouther Ben Hania — the Tunisian submission to the Oscars this year — and Sirât by Oliver Laxe which represents Spain this year.
Faisal Baltyuor, CEO of the Red Sea Film Foundation, commented on the choices: “The Special Screenings embody the Festival’s spirit — giving space to films that transcend artistic boundaries to explore deeply human stories. The Voice of Hind Rajab stands as a moving reminder of cinema’s power to reveal truth and stir collective conscience, while Sirât captivates with its striking visuals and profound philosophical depth.”
The Arab Spectacular section will include Yemeni editor turned filmmaker Anas Ba-Tahaf who will present his much anticipated feature A Matter of Life and Death, as well as Annemarie Jacir’s epic wonder Palestine 36 and Tunisian-born Amine Lakhnech’s feature debut The Fakenapping, a Netflix film produced by Telfaz11.
Antoine Khalife, Director of Arab Programmes and Film Classics, said: “Our Arab Spectacular selection this year is a cinematic celebration of the region’s vitality and creativity. These filmmakers offer deeply personal narratives with universal appeal that reflect the complexity, humour, and struggles of humanity. We’re proud to be sharing three films from our home in Saudi Arabia alongside powerful projects from the wider region, as we continue to emphasise the incredible talent pool present in the Arab world which cannot and should not be ignored.”
Last but definitely not least, are the Competition titles, which will be in contention for the prestigious Yusr Awards presented at the Festival’s awards ceremony.
This year’s selection includes seven films supported by the Red Sea Film Foundation’s ecosystem, including Saudi Arabia’s 2025 Academy Award submission Hijra, directed by Shahad Ameen; A Sad and Beautiful World, a powerful drama by Cyril Aris tracing the everlasting bond of love between childhood sweethearts; Zain Duraie’s Sink, a debut feature that follows a mother struggling with her son’s unravelling mental state; and supernatural Roqia by Yanis Koussim, set in Algeria’s Black Decade. Also supported by the Red Sea Film Foundation are the adult animation about an African child soldier Allah Is Not Obliged, which premiered in Annecy, and the Kenyan documentary Truck Mama.
Fionnuala Halligan, Director Of International Programs, concluded: ‘Focused as we are on films from Asia and Africa for our Competition selection, we see this year a theme of being lost and found – evidently in films like Barni, from Somalia, which focuses on a missing girl, to the plight of the Rohingya in Lost Land. We are delighted to welcome our first ever Korean film in Competition, The World of Love, alongside titles from China, Tajikistan and Kenya, complementing our wider programme of films from across the globe and continuing our commitment to creating cultural exchange through the medium of film. Our selection celebrates filmmakers who push the boundaries and expand the language of cinema – showing how creativity thrives when cultures meet.”
The Red Sea International Film Festival will take place in Jeddah Old Town, Al-Balad, from December 4th to the 13th. Al Balad is recognized as a UNESCO site that offers a captivating cultural experience reflecting the rich heritage of Saudi Arabia.
For more information and to purchase tickets, check out the Festival’s website.